Who is Catechetical Sunday for?
Catechetical Sunday is recognized on the 3rd Sunday of September; this year that means today, September 21, 2025, but what is it and who is it for? Generally speaking, Catechetical Sunday observes and celebrates the catechists of our Church – those that teach and hand on the faith. It’s a day when many dioceses and parishes give thanks for & offer blessings to catechists for their role in sharing the Gospel. For most of us, when we think, “catechist” we think of religion teachers or Sunday school teachers, and those are fine and correct, but I’d like to suggest that we reflect on parents, Godparents, and grandparents as “catechists” for a moment.
This isn’t a new idea. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2221-2226) says that the, “role of parents in [moral and spiritual] education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.” Somehow we, on the whole, seem to have forgotten this. Far too many of us, myself included for many years, thought that it’s the job of the parish or school to educate my children in matters of faith. For certain there is a part to be played by both of these entities, but the weight of responsibility for passing on the faith and a personal relationship with God primarily belongs to the parents. As a mom I taught my kids how to eat, walk, write, and count – the most basic of life’s skills; I also taught them how to cook, drive, and manage a bank account – slightly more advanced life skills. So naturally, I should realize that it’s also my joy to teach them eternal life skills, right?
Of course, we often balk at this idea. Personally, I felt very unprepared to teach my children much about a life of faith when they were young. I didn’t grow up in a household of faith and had no idea how to share the very basic relationship with God that I had developed as an adult. What I didn’t know was that I was doing it without even trying. All I had to do was love God and live a Catholic life. As Pope Paul VI said, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (EVANGELII NUNTIANDI; #41) Much like reading to a child passes on a love of reading, living a Catholic life as a family passes on a love of living a Catholic life. We are witnesses first.
So, how to do this? The Diocese of Lansing says this on their website:
A Catechist…is one who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Catechist will foster that relationship through:
- An active prayer life
- Regular participation in the sacraments
- Living a moral life
- Diligent formation and religious study
Let me elaborate a little:
- Pray individually and together as a family – if you don’t do this now, start; pray at meals and bedtime; it doesn’t have to be long or fancy words, just talk to Jesus together.
- Participate in the sacraments (ie: Sunday Mass and regular Confession) – again, if you don’t do this now, start; come to Sunday Mass no matter the age of your children; let them see that participating in our faith is the top priority of your family
- Live according to the moral guidelines provided by the Church – had a rough background; been a bad boy/girl; not been doing such a great job of following the moral laws even now? Me too. Start. Go to Reconciliation and begin again. And again. And again. Keep going and restarting.
- Keep learning about the faith – by now you know what I’m going to say: not doing this already? Start. Get involved with a small group, find a Bible study, watch some FORMED.org together at home, read something, listen to a podcast; we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to materials and resources to learn about our faith so find something in your learning style and get started.
One caveat, this is not a silver bullet. For better or for worse, God has given us each free will and as our children grow into adulthood they bear the responsibility for their own choices. In my own life, I’ve got two out of three young adult kids that are faithful Mass goers and have a solid relationship with God. Let’s all lift our fallen away children, regardless of their age, up in prayer; that they come home to the faith of their youth. Likewise, you can lift up all catechists (official ones and the ones in every Catholic home) through this prayer:
Loving Father, we pray today for our catechists. We thank you for their gift of ministry in your Church. Grant them your wisdom that they may grow in the understanding and teaching of your Word. Grant them also your love that they may be fruitful heralds of your Word and lead others to love you. Pour forth your Holy Spirit upon them to grant them wisdom about what is important; knowledge of the truths of faith; understanding of their meaning; right judgment about how to apply them in life; courage to persevere even in the face of adversity; reverence before all that is sacred and holy; and that loving zeal which leads others to a transforming encounter with your Son. We pray this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. (copyright 2025, USCCB, Washington DC).
What is Catechetical Sunday? It’s a day for all of us. If you’ve been a parent, a Godparent, a grandparent, a family friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger who has lived as a witness to God’s love and your faith, you’ve been a catechist. Thank you for sharing.